The ' Unofficial Bridgerton Musical': A Chat with Barlow and Bear
(PHOTO: IGOR KASYANYUK / ARTWORK: SAMANTHA BATES)
“What if Bridgerton was a musical?”
It started with a text from Abigail Barlow to Emily Bear amidst the anxieties of COVID-19 quarantine. The message included the beginnings of “Ocean Away,” an emotionally charged ballad from the perspective of two Bridgerton main characters, Daphne and Simon, as they battle their feelings for each other and their own pride. From there, a musical phenomenon was born – leading to 36 million likes on TikTok, a debut performance at Broadway’s Elsie Fest, and even an invitation to sing at the Kennedy Center Honors. Now, the duo is preparing for the reveal of the unofficial Bridgerton musical album, set to release on Friday, September 10th.
The musical began as a collaboration between two friends, frustrated with the lack of opportunities for their careers. “We were both focusing on our separate projects, and we were not really getting anywhere,” Barlow shares.
“Music is a vulnerable art form,” adds Bear. “It’s not easy to deal with a million No’s.”
Thus, the team decided to embark on their own journey – one that didn’t require permission. They both binge-watched the Bridgerton series, connecting with the rich setting and emotional lives of the characters. And they got to work.
Although Barlow and Bear had been introduced for a previous project, and they had a multitude of experience in musical composition, the duo was new to theatrical terrain. “Neither of us had written any musical theatre before,” Barlow explains. “You know, we have very different backgrounds in music. I’m more of a pop writer, but Emily has extensive education in music and knows a lot more on that side than me. But our collaboration has always just worked.” This is clear within the content of the musical – Bear’s classical knowledge and sensibilities, paired with Barlow’s pop prowess make for perfect musical theatre. It also suits the style of Bridgerton, the television series, where swells of violins accompany beloved pop songs. “[I was thinking], there’s a character for everyone and there’s so much drama,” Barlow explains. “There’s a beautiful love story. I can already hear the music because there’s string covers of ‘Thank U Next.’”
The development of this piece has revolutionized the relationship between writer and audience. In a traditional sense, the composer and the consumer rarely interact. But Barlow and Bear have demolished that barrier, instead fostering a sense of community, friendship, and artistic collaboration with their listeners. “Everyone kind of saw the whole writing process,” Bear points out. Most notably, the project has opened the door for young women who are also aspiring musicians, actors, and writers to nurture their talents. “It’s such a wonderful community of people that love music on TikTok,” Barlow shares. “The teenage girls who run that app are so smart and they have the best taste. And they choose what is popular. And we want to create a space for them where they can feel supported and loved and explore the boundaries of their creativity too.” The response has been immense, with many fellow TikTokker’s “duetting” the pieces and sharing praise.
Not only has this project inspired others to share their passions – it has made theatre more accessible. While many people cannot afford to see a Broadway show, creative projects like the Bridgerton musical can engage, entertain, and inspire fans from all over the world. “We do feel that musical theatre is still a very gatekept art form in a multitude of ways,” explains Bear. “[We loved] being able to lift up the curtain. . . So many people love this art form that never knew they did, because they [hadn’t] been exposed to it.”
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the show is that it was completely pioneered by the writers. When questioned about how they obtained the rights to use the television material, the team laughs. “We asked!” Barlow says. “Ask and you shall receive. Netflix was very, very supportive.” Their next exciting opportunity, performing at the Kennedy Center Honors, also came about in a casual fashion. “We just got an e-mail,” says Bear. “And we were like, ‘Excuse me? What?’” It is a truly a testament to how much this team has accomplished – they put themselves on the map.
While roadblocks for emerging artists continue to persist, Barlow and Bear both emphasize the importance of being a self-starter. Their message is clear: don’t wait for permission to create. “We made this entire thing in our room,” Bear says. “If you wanna do it, you can do it. We were so sick of not being given the opportunity to do our thing. So we were just like…let’s just do our thing!”
When asked what is next in their careers, Barlow and Bear share that they have even more exciting projects in the works – but they’re not quite ready to reveal any big news. Their goal, however, remains the same. Barlow says, with a smile, “We’re just excited to tell more stories.”
The unofficial Bridgerton musical album will include fifteen tracks, all written and performed by Barlow and Bear, and will debut on Friday, September 10th. For more information, visit www.barlowandbear.com.